1. What volunteers, parents, staff and pastors need to know about Safe Sanctuary.

3.  A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds  More than five children die every day as a result of child abuse. Over 80% of these children are under 4 years old.  More than 90% of juvenile sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way.

4.  About 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children, continuing the horrible cycle of abuse.  About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.  Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, across ethnic and cultural lines, within all religions and at all levels of education.

5.  Request of General Church, Annual Conference.  Who do each of us know who has been abused?

6.  Mike Schulenberg- Staff Parish, Lawyer  Stacy Branson-Office Manager  Cynthia Anderson- Senior Pastor  Josh Bailey-Green - Associate Pastor  Danice Craney- Youth, Staff Parish  Cheryl Bendeich- Children's Education  Christina Robinson- Parents Day Out

7.  Selection of church personnel and volunteers.  Two person rule.  Reporting abuse to Safe Sanctuary Supervisory group.  All groups using BUMC facilities will adhere to the policies set forth in this document.

8.  All people who work with children, youth or elderly or vulnerable adults will complete:  Application form.  3 reference checks.  Background check.  Application, references and background check will be received or completed prior to serving.

9.  A minimum of two church personnel or volunteers must be present during any activity involving children or youth. ◦ One adult and one older (14 or over) youth (for children’s ministry only). ◦ Two older youth (as in evening child care, for children’s ministry only). ◦ Two adults present must be present for all youth activities.

10.  Two church personnel or volunteers are required to stay until all youth or children are picked up.

11.  If, for any reason, someone is left alone with a child or youth, another church personnel or volunteer should be found as soon as reasonable.  If another person cannot be found, children or youth will be returned to their parent or guardian.

12.  People who transport children, youth or elderly or vulnerable adults will have their driving record check.  Decisions about who may transport will be made according to our insurance underwriters guidelines.

13.  People who transport children or youth must also have a valid drivers license and present proof of valid insurance.

14.  Transportation can be an exception to the two adult rule if transporting children or youth off site. One adult can be in a vehicle if there are two or more unrelated children or youth in the car.  If children or youth carpool with volunteers to or from an event, a note from parents or guardians must be on file with Stacy Branson.

15.  Overnight activities must be supervised by two church personnel or volunteers over the age of 21 and who are not related to each other.  Ratio of adult church personnel or volunteers to children or youth should be 1:7 or less.  The Safe Sanctuary Supervisory Group will clear all volunteers on overnight activities.

16.  Two person rule is difficult. There will be times when an adult and a child or youth are alone in a room.  This will be noted in a permission slip and signed be a parent or guardian.

17.  All mentors will have a Safe Sanctuary background check.  Mentors may meet alone with the confirmand with parental permission and notification.  Mentors will meet with confirmands in a public area.  Parents or guardians will acknowledge this exception to the two adult rule by signing a permission slip.

18.  BUMC supervision begins when there are two adults or youth (supervisors) present.  BUMC supervision ends when all children have left.

19.  Children in Kindergarten and younger will be signed in and out of classrooms or nursery.  Children 5 th grade or younger will be picked up by a parent or guardian.  Children who begin in worship and go to class will be signed in be adult leader and signed out by a parent or guardian.

20.  The nursery will maintain a list of children including who can or cannot pick up a child, and pertinent medical issues.  Christian Education Ministry team and Youth Ministry team will maintain a list of similar information for children or youth.

21.  Parents or guardians must bring children to the nursery, and sign the child in.  Parents may stay and assist in the nursery. This parent does not count as a second adult unless this person is Safe Sanctuary cleared.

22.  To release a child from the nursery – be sure that you are releasing a child to the parent or guardian. Do not release a child from the nursery to siblings under the age of 14.

23.  Children’s diapers will be changed in view of the second adult or youth supervisor.  Parents – we request that you take your children to the washroom before activities.

24.  Church personnel or volunteers may take children to the washroom if necessary.  Take children to the restroom in groups if possible.  Church personnel or volunteers should assist a child only if asked by a child.

25.  Church personnel or volunteers should not be alone with a child in the stall of a restroom with the doors closed.

26.  Children must attend the program for their age, grade or developmental level.  If children are found unsupervised they will be returned to their parents or age appropriate activity.  Children may not be unsupervised in the church.

27.  Annual Training session.  Active involvement in BUMC ministries for one month.  Inform staff if abuse or neglect charges are made against you.  The staff person or pastor responsible for your ministry area is responsible for assuring that Safe Sanctuary policy is followed.

28.  These requirements are waived for outside speakers or entertainers. Two adults must be present during the event and the speaker or entertainer will not be alone with children or youth.  Decisions of the Safe Sanctuary team can be disputed in a discussion between Directing Pastor and staff person responsible for the ministry area.  All information gained through the background check process will be kept confidential unless we are required by court of law to release information.

29.  If you believe that a child or youth is being abused, contact a member of the Safe Sanctuary team immediately. A response team will be formed.  The Safe Sanctuary team member will advise on whether or not a call to DCFS is warranted. The DCFS phone number is 1-800-25ABUSE, 1-800–252-2873.

30.  If you disagree with the assessment of the Safe Sanctuary team, and believe that a call to DCFS is warranted, call them at 1-800-25ABUSE, 1-800–252-2873.  Anyone who willfully fails to report suspected child abuse or neglect may be found guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

32.  People assigned by the church to take pictures of our children or youth will have a background check completed.  Pictures may be used in internal communication.  Identifying information will be removed from photos.  Photos are held on a secure Shutterfly site.  A media release will be signed and on file for all children or youth.

33.  Please note - we cannot be responsible for pictures taken by other members and friends.

34.  Definition: ◦ Vulnerable adult – A person 18 years of age or older who possesses a physical, or emotional dysfunction that impairs the individuals ability to adequately provide for their own care. ◦ Elderly – A person 60 years of age or older who resides in a domestic living situation and is, or is allegedly to be abused, neglected, or financially exploited by another individual or who neglects himself or herself.

35.  This policy will not apply to groups where the primary goal of the group, or the primary participants of the group are not elderly or vulnerable adults.  The two adult rule will not apply in counseling or counseling type situations.  This policy will apply to people who transport elderly or vulnerable adults.

36.  Two leaders will be identified for each group.  Drivers and assistants will have a background check including a drivers license check.  These two leader will have a background check.  Information from this background check will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

37.  All volunteers will receive an annual Safe Sanctuary training either in a group setting or online.  Staff person or pastor responsible for your ministry area will be responsible for assuring compliance with Safe Sanctuary policy.

38.  All incidents of suspected abuse should be reported to the Safe Sanctuary Supervisory Group.  Fill out the Elder or Vulnerable Adult Report Form.

39.  To report suspected abuse, exploitation or neglect of an older person, call the Elder Abuse Hotline:  1-866-800-1409

40.  We establish this policy at the request of the Northern Illinois Conference Volunteers In Mission Coordinator.

41.  Two leaders of each adult mission team will have a Safe Sanctuary clearance and training.  Forms will be kept in the Safe Sanctuary Safe.

42.  Two unrelated adults will lead each mission team.  If child care is provided as part of a mission trip, the Safe Sanctuary policy for children and youth will be followed.  Two unrelated, safe sanctuary cleared people will be in an exam space for medical mission trips.  Staff person or pastor responsible for the mission trip will assure compliance.

43.  Abuse will be reported immediately to one of the team leaders.  Incident will be reported to authorities immediately if the team is in the United States or upon return if the team is in a foreign country.  Appropriate procedures for reporting to DCFS or Elder Abuse hotline will be followed.  The alleged abuser will be removed from contact with children or youth until the issue is resolved.

44.  If on an international mission trip, and the accused is from the host country, the Host Missionary or their representative will assume responsibility in cooperation with the team leader.

45.  Safe Sanctuary policy will be reviewed annually.

46.  A Mandated Reporter is a professional who may work with children in the course of their professional duties.  Medical Personnel.  School Personnel.  Clergy.  Social Service/Mental Health Personnel.  Law Enforcement.  Child Care Personnel.  Coroner.  Students in one of these areas.

47.  Everyone!  Even if we don’t have a legal obligation to report, we do have a theological obligation to the people in our care.  Hospitality and Justice ministry.

48.  How do we recognize what we are to report?

49.  Physical Abuse: ◦ To deliberately and intentionally cause bodily harm to a child.

50.  Emotional Abuse: ◦ To expose a child to spoken and/or unspoken violence or emotional cruelty.

51.  Neglect: ◦ To endanger a child’s health, safety or welfare.

52.  Sexual Abuse: ◦ Sexual contact between a child and an adult, or older more powerful youth.

53.  Ritual Abuse: ◦ Physical, sexual, or psychological violation of a child inflicted regularly, intentionally, and in a stylized way by a person or persons responsible for the child’s welfare.

54.  Assure compliance with policy.  Review applications, references etc as needed.  Annual review of policy.  Assure proper reporting practices for DCFS and Elder Abuse Hotline.

55.  Facilitate Church’s response to abuse.  Provide for Church spokesperson.  Assure compliance with DCFS or Hotline investigation. Facilitate church access.

56.  Staff Parish verifies staff and pastor implementation of the Safe Sanctuary Policy.  Staff Parish also does Safe Sanctuary clearance for staff, pastors, and their families.